Warda Ali

Board Vice President | Sacramento County

Warda Ali currently resides in Sacramento and has been volunteering for a local mental health non-profit for over 5 years. Warda is a Somali Muslim American and was born and raised in California. As a child of immigrants who holds her religion and culture close to home, she realized at a young age that mental health was stigmatized in her community. This launched her into community outreach work and volunteering at local mental health organizations. Beginning to volunteer and attend workshops at the age of twelve, she wanted to understand and learn more about the mental health issues that she and her family and friends were experiencing. Warda has struggled with severe anxiety all throughout her childhood but it became prevalent to speak up on taboo topics like mental health as she watched her friends, family, and peers be silenced during their mental health crises. Warda’s journey in mental health advocacy advanced when she joined the Sacramento branch of the TAY Mental Health Advocacy Group and continues as she is currently a second-year college student majoring in psychology with interests in behavioral health, neuropsychology, and brain and mind studies. She believes in the importance of the youth voice and youth involvement in large-scale change. As a CAYEN Board Member, she hopes to be a voice for Black Muslim youth and provide a platform for their voices. Warda’s goal is to empower youth, make mental health resources accessible to all, and implementing mental health education in schools around the state of California.